Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1887-07-08
The Assault on Missionary Ridge.

One of the splendid battles of the
war was that of Chattanooga. In the
ca.rrent number of the Century Gen.
etal Fullerton tells the story of the
firisg Of the signal guns to take the
rifle pits ut the base of the ridge occu-
pied by Bragg, and the rush of 20, 900
men. The General says: The enc
my Were thrown into confusion. and
took precipitate flight up the ridge"
He adds: "Many prisoners and large
number of small arms were captured" "
Aad now follows clear statement of
what the soldiers did for Themselves
most instructive and brilliant pas
s1ge:
The order of the commanding Gen
eral had now been fully and most sue
cessfully carried out. But it did not
ca far enough To satisfy these brave
men. who thought the time had come
ts finish the battle of Chickamauga.
There was u halt of but few minutes,
to take breath aud To form lines: then,
with a sudden impulse, all started up
the side of the ridge. Not a command
lag officer had given the order to ad.
vance. The men who carried the mus
kets had taken the matter into their
osn hands. had moved of their own
accord. Officers. catching their spirit.
first followed, then led There was
no thought ofproterting ilanks, though
tie enemy's line could bc seen stretch
ing beyond ON either side; there was
no thought os support or reserves
As soon a. this movement was seen
from Orchard Knob Grant quickly
turued TO Thomas. who stood by his
SIDE. and | heard him angrily say:
.'Thomas, who ordered those men up
the ridge? Thomas replied in his
know; did not Then. addressing
General Gordon Granger. he said:
Did ynu order them mp. Granger?'
No. said Granger: they started up
Without orders. When those fellows
get started all hell can't stop them
s.encr.al Grant said something To the
eject that somebody would suffer il il
cid not turn ous well, and then. turn
ing round. stoically watched the ridge.
lie gave ne further orders
As soau a. Granger had replied to
Thomas h. turned Ia me. his chief-of-
staff. and said: Ride at once to W os,d
and then to Sheridan and ask them IL
th.s ordered their men up the ridge.
and tell them. IL they can take it. to
push ahead A. was mounting
Granger added: Ii j. hot over there,
and you may no; get through shall
send Captain Avery to Sheridan, and
other officers after both of yotts As
fast As my horse conld carry me rode
first ;o General Wood and delivered
The message. 4 didn't order them up
saul Wood; they started up on their
own account. and they are going up.
ssso. Tell Granger. IL We are sup
uorted. we will take and hold the
isEgo.'' A. soon a | reached General
Ned: ssrfsin Avery gssi to Geaeral
Sheridan and delivered hi message.
4 didn'; orler them up. said Shcri-
dan; but We are going to take the
rids. H., then a~k,~l Avery for his
flask and waved 1t At group oi Con-
frdcgaic officers standing just IN front
of Bragg headquarters with the s.iiu-
tation. H-rc'> ~ Nou. ~ once two
guns the Lady Br"cAinrid-r and the
Lady Buckuct--in front "f Eragg's
headquarters we're iir,d at Sheridan
aud the group II uiliccTs about him.
Dac she'll sirllca -u near a. To- throw
dirt over Sheridan and Avery. 'Ah'
said the Grn.ral. that j. un.rnrru,I>;
shall iakr th">c guns for is,at and
be ,siI. ana = -nni many more